MetroFamily Magazine November 2020

NOVEMBER 2020

Giving Back

ies Opportunit to serve as a family

Party Like It’s 2020 Trending tips for COVIDfriendly celebrations

Get in the Holiday Spirit

Dazzling day trips for light displays

Nov. 21 – Dec. 31 6 pm – 11 pm Nightly

Merry & Bright!

An illuminated tour of 5 million twinkling lights in Yukon, OK! Located in City Park, Freedom Trail Park and Chisholm Trail Park.

Visit us online for more information.

http://www.yukonok.gov/ChristmasinthePark — Drive through the lights! — Take a self-guided tour through “Oklahoma’s largest drive-thru Christmas light display!”

— Walk through the lights! — Get up-close and personal to the lights with a walking tour. Selfie Spots and Photo Opps

— Santa Express Train Rides — Every Night | Weather Permitting | 6 pm - 10 pm $3.00 per Person | Chisholm Trail Park

— Ice Skating Rink — REAL Ice Not synthetic like many others.

Mon. - Fri. 4 pm - 10 pm | Chisholm Trail Park | Sat. - Sun. 2 pm - 10 pm View of Christmas Lights and Santa Express Train

Generosity of space. Millions of twinkling lights and our soaring 48-foot Christmas tree.

Hundreds of enhanced cleaning protocols. Boundless family-friendly holiday events, from snow tubing and ice skating to our brand-new I Love Christmas Movies™ immersive pop-up experience featuring ELF™, THE POLAR EXPRESS™, and more!

November 13 – January 3 | ChristmasAtGaylordTexan.com ELF and all related characters and elements © & ™ New Line Productions, Inc. (s20) · THE POLAR EXPRESS and all related characters and elements © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s20)

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EXPLORING OKLAHOMA

Features

Departments

14 The Scoop on Screen Time

10 Local Family Fun

36 Family Mental Wellness

16 Creating Connection Through Hair Care

24 Calendar

38 Exploring Oklahoma

20 Party Like It's 2020 Trending tips for COVID-friendly celebrations

32 Real Moms of the Metro

Realistic management strategies from a metro pediatrician

Nonprofit equips foster parents with hair care resources & education

20 SEE SIGNS CELEBRATE

Socially-distant opportunities to serve Turkey trots, holiday light displays and socially-distant shopping Creating community for youth in crisis

Bullying 101: Identifying victims and instigators Take a day trip for holiday happenings

44 Super Kids of the Metro

Teens supporting teens through volunteerism

On the cover Giving Back page 10 Party Like It's 2020 page 20 Get in the Holiday Spirit pages 28 & 38

4 METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / NOVEMBER 2020

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 2020

2020

2020

2020

2020

2020

2020

Publisher

Sarah Taylor

Managing Editor Erin Page

Assistant Editor Lindsay Cuomo

Contributing Writers Kristy Blosch Dr. Erica Faulconer

Contributing Photographer Bridget Pipkin

Art Director Stacy Noakes

Senior Project Manager Kirsten Holder

Director of Events Marissa Raglin

M

ost days I am a literal whirling dervish, packing kid lunches, listening to sight words and unpacking groceries while also finishing laundry, answering emails and locating soccer cleats.

Sound familiar? During a recent episode of multitasking at its finest (or worst?), I exploded about how much I had to do to get us all to our respective places fed, clothed and prepared.

Thank goodness my kids have MY THREE KIDS ARE MY CONSTANT REMINDER TO CHOOSE a reputation for turning my GRATITUDE. PHOTO BY 3 BLESSINGS PHOTOGRAPHY. grumbling into gratitude. One reminded me of a time not so long and joy. Find a few of our favorite local ago when they didn’t get to return opportunities, with socially distant options, to school, so we didn’t have to pack those on page 10. lunches. Another reminded me how happy he was that he’d been able to return to playing During this month of gratitude, I’ll be seeking sports, hence those soccer cleats. to spend less time chaotically multitasking and more time focusing on what I’m most thankful Do your kids do this for you, too? It seems for, especially my family and my community. mine are always providing me perspective when I need it most, whether through dinnertime prayers where they express thanks for the smallest of things or stopping me in my whirling tracks for a big hug.

As my kids get older, we also intentionally make time to serve our community together, another opportunity to gain perspective

Sales

And I plan to take my attitude of gratitude through the holiday season and into the new year. Will you join me?

With hope,

Erin Page Managing Editor

Dana Price Laura Beam

Office Manager Andrea Shanks

Contact us

318 NW 13th St, Ste 101 OKC OK 73103 Phone: 405-601-2081 tips@metrofamilymagazine.com www.metrofamilymagazine.com MetroFamily Magazine is published monthly. Copyright 2019 by Inprint Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Articles and advertisements in MetroFamily do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the magazine or Inprint Publishing, Inc. We do not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. The acceptance of advertising by MetroFamily does not constitute an endorsement of the products, services, or information. We do not knowingly present any product or service which is fraudulent or misleading in nature.

Circulation audited by

Proud member of

This Month’s Cover Lilyali, 5, loves all creatures great and small so she was especially thrilled to meet Peaches the pony for her Cover Kids photoshoot at Cadence Equestrian Center! The animal lover attends Tulakes Elementary School. Lilyali is studying the art of karate and also enjoys dancing and music. She equally adores dressing up as superheroes and princesses. She is the daughter of Eric and Nina and big sister to Lareia, and the family’s favorite metro attraction to enjoy together is Science Museum Oklahoma.

Also a member of Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, Edmond Chamber of Commerce & Moore Chamber of Commerce

METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / NOVEMBER 2020

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Off the Pages Get your Geek tickets!

Our virtual Geekapalooza: A STEAM Festival for Kids launches on Nov. 8 with a session by OKC meteorologist Emily Sutton! This exciting series of 10, one-hour workshops is designed to get kids of all ages engaged in hands-on STEAM activities. Watch sessions live or check out the recordings at your family’s convenience. Plus, enjoy prizes, giveaways and a photo contest!

General admission tickets are $12 per family.

Learn more and secure your tickets by Nov. 6 at metrofamilymagazine.com/geekapalooza.

Geekapalooza is an annual program of Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma and MetroFamily.

HOLIDAY LIGHTS SPECTACULAR

T

Drive-thru open daily Nov. 20 - Dec. 25 6-10 p.m. Mon - Thurs; 6-11 p.m. Fri & Sat 6-11 p.m. Christmas Eve Joe B Barnes Regional Park 118 ft Christmas Tree | Tunnel of Lights Over 100 Animated Displays in a Mile And a Half Drive Holiday Lights Spectacular is FREE!

(Donations help us bring the lights back next year!)

LIGHT THE CITY

Dec 1 - 6 to 7 p.m.

Charles J Johnson Central Park at Town Center Plaza Come light the City with us! If you can’t join us, turn on your own lights at 6:30p.m.!

CITY OF MIDWEST CITY SPECIAL EVENTS DEPARTMENT 100 N MIDWEST BLVD | MIDWEST CITY OK 739-1289 MIDWESTCITYOK.ORG

6 METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / NOVEMBER 2020

Is it flu or COVID???

That’s the burning question on many parents’ minds as we enter typical cold and flu season, now paired with COVID-19.

Distinguishing symptoms, and wading through all the information out there, is enough to make your head hurt.

We asked local pediatrician Dr. Jason Onarecker of SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital for his best advice for parents as we head into this “twindemic.”

Dr. Onarecker gives tips on how families can best prepare for the winter months and how to decipher between symptoms at metrofamilymagazine.com/covidor-flu.

BY CHARLES DICKENS • ADAPTED BY MICHAEL BARON CO-DIRECTED BY MICHAEL BARON & ASHLEY WELLS

In an All-New, Outdoor Holiday Experience Live at the Harn Homestead!

Be whisked away to a magical holiday village nestled in the heart of Oklahoma City! The historic Harn Homestead will be reimagined as the Victorian Era setting for Ebenezer Scrooge, Jacob Marley, magical spirits and a host of unforgettable characters. Follow Charles Dickens’ timeless tale of transformation and redemption, as you’re guided from scene to scene at the homestead!

NOVEMBER 4 to DECEMBER 30

Ultimate Holiday Giveaway There’s no place like home for the holidays, and there’s no better time to WIN big! Enter our Ultimate Holiday Giveaway for a chance to win one of three prize bundles from our partners, which include gifts like STEAM activity kits, preschool toys and activities, board games, staycation packages and more! The contest runs Dec. 1 through 12, and you can enter daily. Learn more about the prizes and packages starting Nov. 30 at metrofamilymagazine.com/contests.

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SEASON SPONSORS

Home FREE Home Make your home sweet home even sweeter by entering for a chance to win FREE mortgage or rent for a year! Starting Nov. 15 and running through Dec. 14, entries will be accepted for the Home for a Year contest. One national prize of $15,000 will be awarded to be put toward rent or mortgage for one year. Visit metrofamilymagazine.com/ contests for more info.

MetroFamily Insiders Ho Ho Holiday season favorites Get in the holiday spirit with our Winter Fun Guides! You’ll find local light displays, cold weather fun, cultural celebrations, socially-distant holiday events, Christmas tree farms and much more at metrofamilymagazine. com/winter-fun-guides.

Dropping daily parenting hacks — sign up!

Make MetroFamily part of your weekday morning routine, with the latest in family fun, timely news and real-life parenting hacks delivered straight to your inbox. Be the first to find our #weekendpicks every Thursday, plus enjoy exclusive offers from hot spots for family fun. Sign up today at metrofamilymagazine. com/subscribe-enews.

8 METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / NOVEMBER 2020

In a time where convenience is key, let us deliver straight to your doorstep!

For just $25 annually, become a MetroFamily Insider and receive a mailed subscription to MetroFamily Magazine, discounted and early-bird tickets to annual MetroFamily events (think Kids Fest, Cover Kids, Geekapalooza, etc.) and downloadable graphics and activities. Plus, be the first to know about new openings and events around the metro. Sign up by Dec. 1 and you will be automatically entered to win a getaway to the Gaylord Texan Resort in Dallas. This is a fantastic stocking stuffer for any mom, grandparent or caretaker in your life! Visit metrofamilymagazine. com/insider for more details.

SAFE AND SOCIALLY-DISTANT

BIRTHDAY PARTIES

Looking for a skate party? Outdoor party? Parties in Edmond or Norman? Search our online Party Guide and find just the perfect venue or entertainment for your child’s next celebration!

metrofamilymagazine.com/party-guide

LOCAL FAMILY FUN

Giving Back SIBLINGS AND FAMILY MEMBERS WORK TOGETHER TO PREPARE FOR FOOD DRIVES TO SERVE FAMILIES IN NEED THROUGH FILLING TUMMIES.

5 options to serve as a family

BY ERIN PAGE. PHOTOS PROVIDED.

Volunteering as a family is an excellent way to spend time together, benefit the community and teach kids about the importance of giving to others and lending a hand. As we approach Thanksgiving and are mindful of our own blessings, this time of year is also the perfect time to teach our kids about the joy and impact of serving our community. Check out these sociallydistant opportunities to volunteer with kids in the metro this season.

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1

Host a food drive for families in need.

Filling Tummies provides food, formula and basic necessities to kids, families and seniors living in food deserts. The organization’s mobile food pantry bus typically visits schools for students to enjoy shopping for their own fresh produce and packaged snacks, but during COVID-19 the organization has been offering drive-through food distribution for community members. Families can organize their own food drive to collect items to donate to Filling Tummies or volunteer to package donations or assist with food giveaways. Visit fillingtummies.com for more information.

2

Make Thanksgiving memorable for the homebound.

Other Options, Inc. provides food, resources, services and education to at-risk individuals and families affected by HIV and AIDS. Cookie’s Thanksgiving, a program of Other Options, Inc., has in years past fed more than 1,000 inneed individuals affected by HIV and AIDS on Thanksgiving Day. Families can help by signing up to make deliveries to homebound individuals (with PPE provided), provide Thanksgiving menu items (with a list available at otheroptionsokc. org/events) or donate just $7 to provide a full Thanksgiving meal. The organization’s food pantry serves more than 1,200 adults and children every month. Learn more at otheroptionsokc.org.

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FAMILIES CAN SUPPORT OTHER OPTIONS' COOKIE'S THANKSGIVING PROGRAM IN SEVERAL WAYS.

Wrap a family in warmth.

Each holiday season, Upward Transitions creates a Calendar of Sharing to invite families and individuals to collect a different item each day for the clients the organization serves who are facing homelessness. Items requested include things like socks, gloves, hand warmers and travel size toiletries. Families can grab a box, each day put the designated item in the box and then supply everything collected to the organization to distribute through the winter months. Find out more at upwardtransitions.org.

DONATIONS FOR UPWARD TRANSITIONS TO HELP FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS FACING HOMELESSNESS.

#OKCFamilyFun is sponsored by Crestone Ridge.

(405) 820-6851

www.crestoneridge.com

Convenient living at its finest!

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METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / NOVEMBER 2020

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4 5

Support teachers and students.

Restore OKC is a relationship-based, community-driven redevelopment organization focused in Northeast Oklahoma City.

Community members can support teachers through serving on classroom care teams, help provide and pack snacks and food for students over the weekends and holidays or assist in maintaining, weeding and harvesting in school gardens. Learn more at restoreokc.org.

Make a meal (or grab take out!) for at-risk youth.

Sisu is a low-barrier, affirming shelter for at-risk youth to receive a place to stay, clothing, access to resources and case management and warm meals. The organization relies on community members to provide meals for the youth. Meals can be homemade or take out and can be dropped off at the shelter socially-distant style to limit contact. Find out more about signing up on Sisu’s meal train at sisuyouth.org/donate.

ADDIE WORKS IN THE GARDEN AT MARTIN LUTHER KING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AS A VOLUNTEER FOR RESTORE OKC.

Find our full list of family volunteer opportunities at metrofamilymagazine.com/volunteer.

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12 METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / NOVEMBER 2020

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#HolidaysInEnid Cut your own Christmas Tree at Red Bird Farm Friday-Sunday beginning Nov. 27

Christmas in the Village Saturdays Nov. 28-Dec. 19 Downtown Ice Rink Nov. 20-Jan. 3 SkateInEnid.com

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METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / NOVEMBER 2020

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The Scoop on Screen Time:

Realistic family strategies If you feel your kids’ screen time has increased exponentially during the COVID-19 pandemic, you’re not alone. The advocacy group Parents

BY ERIN PAGE

We asked pediatrician Dr. Natalia Tutak with SSM Health St. Anthony to weigh in on realistic strategies to manage kids’ screen time.

Together reports a 500 percent increase in kids’ screen time usage during the pandemic, with 85 percent of parents concerned about their kids’ time spent in front of screens. With many kids learning online, and many parents working from home succumbing to kids’ requests for more screen time to get their own work done, parent guilt over screens is also on the rise.

SPONSORED BY SSM HEALTH ST. ANTHONY

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The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends 2 hours or less of screen time for kids, but we know that during the pandemic kids’ screen time has soared. Is there a more realistic, individualized way to gauge how much screen time is appropriate for a child?

Especially right now, there’s not a one-size-fits-all answer about kids and screen time. The key is tailoring screen time usage to your family’s needs and values. One great tool families can use is creating an individualized Family Media Use Plan through the American Academy of Pediatrics at HealthyChildren.org/MediaUsePlan. This tool allows families to think about how they want to use media and create goals and rules in line with their personal values. The plan includes a media time calculator you can set for each child by age. Then, you can calculate time away from media for sleep and recommended daily exercise, and you can add/subtract time for school, meals, family time, etc. to get a more realistic approach to how much screen time your child is getting.

When it comes to screen time limits, does quality or quantity matter most? How should content and context of kids’ screen time factor in?

Right now it is best to focus on quality screen time. It will be difficult to limit quantity especially since that is how most of school work is now being done. In general, quality screen time is that which is educational and/or viewed alongside a parent or caregiver.

Podcasts and audiobooks can also be great ways to engage kids in educational screen time.

Tracking daily screen time for kids can be a chore and often ends up in a fight! What are some realistic strategies for parents to communicate and get kids on board with whatever screen time limitations they set?

If your child is older, work through the Family Media Use Plan with them. This way they can feel like they were a part of the decisionmaking process. Parents should also model the expected behaviors for them. For example, if you set meal times as media free zones, it should apply to all family members.

With many kids learning virtually, how can parents strike a balance between screen time for schoolwork, screen time for fun and off-screen time?

Stick to a schedule. Set a time to wake up, get ready for the day and do school work. Keep the TV off during virtual learning, take mini breaks from the computer and have a set lunch break. After school work is done you can have time set aside for “fun” screen time for the child. For off-screen time it helps to keep screens out of bedrooms and set limits of no screen time during meals and bedtime.

Is digital eye strain a concern for kids learning virtually, and if so, how can parents help mitigate it?

Digital eye strain is most certainly a concern, especially with the increase in screen time. Parents can help their children by reminding them to take breaks. The child should look away from the screen about every 20 minutes, focus on an object at least 20 feet away for about 20 seconds. Kids should also get up and walk away from the screen for 10 minutes each hour.

What apps, programs or rules do you recommend to help parents keep kids safe on their devices?

Screen time shouldn’t always be alone time. One way to keep kids safe is to co-watch programs with them or play games they enjoy with them. There are also many apps like Bark and Qustodio that can help parents monitor usage. Refer to organizations such as Common Sense Media, which reviews age appropriate apps, games and programs.

How can screen time impact kids’ mental health, and what might be some behaviors or indicators that could mean they need a screen break?

High users of screen time can be more likely to display poor emotion regulation, decreased self-control and inability to finish tasks. If you notice poor sleep or the child withdrawing from family and friends, it should spark an open conversation about what is going on and a reevaluation of screen time.

How can families create opportunities for screen breaks and healthy habits for screen usage?

One great opportunity for a screen break for everyone in the family is during dinner. Focus on the meal and spending time together as a family (unplugged). In general, ensure media does not take the place of adequate sleep, physical activity, reading, downtime or family activities.

Dr. Natalia Tutak is a pediatrician with SSM Health St. Anthony who cares for children and adolescents across a variety of non-emergency primary care needs, including well child checks with immunizations, sports physicals, treatment of acute symptoms, ongoing treatment of chronic concerns and more. She earned her bachelor’s degree in microbiology and her medical degree from the University of Oklahoma before going on to pursue her residency at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Dr. Tutak is a member of the American Medical Association, American Women’s Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics and Oklahoma State Medical Association. Dr. Tutak can be reached at 405-713-2696 or ssmhealth.com/NataliaTutakMD.

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METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / NOVEMBER 2020

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THE HAIR INITIATIVE Connecting foster parents with hair care resources for kids of color

BY ERIN PAGE. PHOTOS PROVIDED.

Emma Butler has volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for the past five years, advocating in court cases for the best interest of children in the foster care system. A few years ago, she met a very selfconscious little girl who had been placed in multiple homes and whose hair had not been properly cared for in months.

Butler, who wondered if this was a singular instance of a white family not knowing how to care for a Black child’s hair or a more prevalent issue in the foster care system, connected with Oklahoma Department of Human Services child welfare specialist Christy Horn to get her take.

Horn has been with OKDHS for more than six years, four years as a permanency worker and two as a family meeting facilitator, and she confirmed that improper hair care is a problem for kids in the foster care system, both for girls and boys. In her experience, kids’ appearance, especially their hair, is one of the biggest points of contention between biological and foster parents.

Challenges exist for all parties involved.

Biological parents often spend their visits with their children doing their hair, or hair

16 METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / NOVEMBER 2020

care falls on Black child welfare workers.

Horn has researched and spent her own money to purchase hair care products for foster kids that she hoped were adequate for their needs.

“We wanted to educate parents on the basics of hair care, give them supplies, create a network of stylists and facilitate conversation through workshops, all in a judgment-free zone."

Emma Butler Though some foster parents aren’t motivated to figure out hair care for a child whose ethnicity is different from their own, many who are so inclined face barriers. Horn knows foster parents who’ve been berated for their foster children’s appearances while trying to shop for proper hair care products or attempting to patronize a salon or barber shop. In addition, hair products and stylists are expensive. Though Horn says foster parents receive hours of training to become certified, not much time is devoted to hair

care, and potential foster parents are often, understandably, more focused on topics like trauma-informed care at that point in their learning journey.

Butler and Horn decided to do something to address the problem, empowering foster parents with hair care tools and resources, and in turn boosting the confidence of kids in foster care, celebrating and affirming their heritage and building bridges with biological families. In 2018, nonprofit organization The Hair Initiative was born.

“We wanted to educate parents on the basics of hair care, give them supplies, create a network of stylists and facilitate conversation through workshops, all in a judgment-free zone,” said Butler.

MEETING THE NEED The Hair Initiative achieves its mission by providing hair care kits and educational workshops to foster parents. They also provide referrals for stylists near foster families who are experienced with their foster child’s type of hair, and they are working to create a network of top-notch stylists offering discounted services.

Hair care kits cost about $15 to $20 to make and include detangling brushes, products, spray bottles, hair clips and sleeping bonnets packed in a sturdy bag, with items included specific to hair length and texture. Kits are

“This started off as how can we help this one little girl and has snowballed. This little girl has completely changed my life, and in turn, all these other kids’ and parents’ lives.”

Emma Butler LOCAL STYLIST ROSHONDA COLEMAN PROVIDES SERVICES FOR FOSTER KIDS THROUGH THE HAIR INITIATIVE AND WILL TRAVEL AROUND THE STATE IN THE COMING YEAR TO PRESENT THE ORGANIZATION’S WORKSHOPS. METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / NOVEMBER 2020

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available for both girls and boys. Butler and Horn test out all the products, ensuring they are great quality items that can hold up to kids. Most items are sourced from local Black-owned companies, including LaMoor Beauty Supply in Oklahoma City, which has provided high-quality items at reduced prices for the nonprofit.

Hundreds of kits have been provided so far, through workshops, foster care agencies, individual child welfare workers, the Boys and Girls Club, various clothing closets and Oklahoma City’s juvenile detention center.

“These kids are taken from their families, schools, siblings and grandparents. A child deserves to know about their culture, and this allows kids to feel they are still connected to that part of themselves.”

Christy Horn “Every child deserves the dignity of a good hair day,” said Butler. “Kids in custody often travel with their items in trash bags, so we also wanted to give them a kit and a bag that belongs to them.”

The Hair Initiative develops partnerships with Black stylists and Black-owned beauty salons to provide discounted services to kids in foster care. No matter where a child is placed in the state, the organization strives to connect kids with a vetted stylist who will know how to care for his or her hair.

Stylists undergo a background check and sign a confidentiality agreement, and they are prepared for the nature of foster children who have undergone trauma or neglect.

Roshonda Coleman is a metro stylist who will both provide services for foster kids through The Hair Initiative and travel around the state in the coming year to present the organization’s workshops, through which foster parents have the opportunity to learn about proper hair care, get hands-on with products and ask questions.

“Often they have been scared to ask questions, but we make them feel comfortable,” said Horn.

18 METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / NOVEMBER 2020

Over the course of the workshops, especially during Q&A sessions, conversations often encompass how a child’s hair is connected to their culture and the importance of the foster parents respecting and affirming that connection.

“These kids are taken from their families, schools, siblings and grandparents,” said Horn. “A child deserves to know about their culture, and this allows kids to feel they are still connected to that part of themselves.”

After a recent workshop, a mom contacted Butler and Horn to say her foster daughter felt much more confident after she learned how to properly care for her hair.

“This is teaching kids to love themselves, their natural, beautiful aspects, and empowering them to know they don’t have to look a certain way,” said Butler.

Horn adds that the simple act of a foster parent brushing or caring for their foster child’s hair provides physical affirmation and increases bonding, helping kids feel safe and connected.

MORE THAN HAIR In the short time the nonprofit has existed, community response has been overwhelmingly positive and the outreach has grown beyond what the founders dreamed. After a judge at Oklahoma City’s juvenile detention center was concerned about the condition of many of the female residents’ hair, he called Horn to see if The Hair Initiative could help.

“The boys were getting hair cuts every other week, but the girls had never had that happen and some had even shaved their heads,” said Horn.

Butler and Horn immediately went to work, providing more than 700 hair products and tools to the center, putting on a hair care workshop for the girls and providing a stylist for the girls to get their hair done.

Their bright smiles, and even some tears, at the acknowledgment that they mattered meant the world to Butler and Horn. Kids in inpatient care will also have the opportunity to get their hair done.

“These kids don’t have anybody,” said Horn.

“We want them to know they still matter, that they aren’t forgotten.”

The initiative has also brought people across races together to learn about and celebrate their differences.

“As a biracial woman I’ve been in that in between, uncomfortable space, but standing

HAIR CARE KITS INCLUDE DETANGLING BRUSHES, PRODUCTS, SPRAY BOTTLES, HAIR CLIPS AND SLEEPING BONNETS.

in that space all these years has come in handy,” said Butler. “I can stand in the middle of these two groups and relate with the parents and the children.”

Butler visited the little girl whose story inspired The Hair Initiative the night before she was adopted, while the girl’s aunt did her hair. Unlike that first visit, the girl was confident, able to look Butler in the eye and so excited about the opportunity to get her hair fixed in a way that fit her personal style.

At the time, the idea for The Hair Initiative was still percolating, and the girl helped Butler brainstorm the name, a beautiful nod to where it all began.

“This started off as how can we help this one little girl and has snowballed,” said Butler.

“This little girl has completely changed my life, and in turn, all these other kids’ and parents’ lives.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP The Hair Initiative is run entirely by volunteer efforts. The organization is currently seeking board members as well as volunteers to pack and deliver hair care kits.

Individuals, families and organizations can donate to the organization to help purchase items for the kits and cover operational costs. The organization is also seeking local hair stylists, of any specialty, to help. Visit thehairinitiative.org for more information.

“Every child deserves the dignity of a good hair day."

Emma Butler

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Join today at ymcaokc.org/join MADDIE (PICTURED), WHO IS ADOPTED, AND HER MOM KIM BILGER ARE CLIENTS OF STYLIST ROSHONDA COLEMAN AND WILL ATTEND THE HAIR INITIATIVE WORKSHOPS TO SHARE PERSPECTIVE FROM THEIR HAIR CARE JOURNEY WITH PARTICIPANTS.

METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / NOVEMBER 2020

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Parties

IN A

P

A

IC

BY ERIN PAGE. PHOTOS PROVIDED.

NDEM

Throwing a birthday party during a pandemic can present considerable challenges, but parents, party planners, venues and entertainment resources have all gotten creative in COVID-friendly celebrations. Guest lists are definitively smaller right now as party hosts strive to keep safety in mind, but that doesn’t mean there’s a limit on fun! From birthday parades and festive front-yard signs to Zoom parties and extra-special décor, we take a look at some of the hottest trends in party planning, perfect for times of pandemic and beyond.

Our expert panel includes: Jessica Ganther with Party with Jess, Chelsey Flint with Chelsey Flint Events, Akwe Trevillion with See Signs Celebrate and Katrina Uhls with Unpluggits Paint & Play.

Littles

Let’s be honest, first birthdays are often more for the parents than the child. And parents absolutely deserve a celebration for conquering that first year!

For toddlers and preschoolers, Ganther encourages parents to remember that littles don’t get hung up on party details like the perfect menu or matching décor. Instead focus on surrounding littles with people who love them (whether in person or virtually) and a theme that makes their eyes light up.

TRENDING • If you’re keeping the party to immediate family, create a fun backdrop for a photoshoot or a cake smash, then send video and photos to family and friends. Or set up a Zoom party so everyone can watch (and sing Happy Birthday!) in real-time.

• For littles who love animals, check out options like Magnolia Blossom Ranch, where you can visit the amazing alpacas one group at a time, or schedule them to come to you!

• Babies and preschoolers alike adore balloons and that includes little party guests! Send party balloons home as a favor.

SOME FAMILIES ARE OPTING TO CELEBRATE WITH IMMEDIATE FAMILY ONLY. COURTESY OF CHELSEY FLINT EVENTS.

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• Opt outdoors by planning a party for littles at a local park so guests can be socially distanced.

MONEY-SAVER

PERSONALIZED TREATS MAKE A SPLASH. COURTESY OF PARTY WITH JESS.

Instead of purchasing more expensive themed paper goods and décor, choose the primary colors within your child’s theme (like red, purple, orange, blue and green for a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle extravaganza) and score plates, cups, napkins, balloons, streamers, favors and other décor in those colors from Dollar Tree or the like. Choose just a few items, like one oversized balloon or the cake, to feature the theme in detail.

SPLURGE-WORTHY Hiring a local party planner can cut down on day-of stress for parents and allow them to truly enjoy the party. Local party planners like Ganther and Flint work with all budget levels and can design and style the entire party, or just provide items like a custom cake, favors or special décor. Some even offer contact-less drop-offs of decorations, or yard sign companies like See Signs Celebrate set up and take down your birthday message of choice, no contact required.

"ONE IN A MELON" IS A POPULAR THEME FOR LITTLES. COURTESY OF CHELSEY FLINT EVENTS.

TOP TIPS FOR ALL AGES • Choose the party situation your family feels most comfortable with, whether that includes friends, family or just those in your household.

• Set a clear budget, then select areas where you can save and one or two items to splurge on, whether with your money or time.

• If you’re hosting at a party venue, ask what your group’s exposure would be to other groups, how the venue sanitizes (and how often) and about any other pandemic precautions that have been put in place to keep guests safe.

• Whether at home or at a venue, use disposable plates and cutlery and individually packaged drinks and snacks when possible to cut down on hand-to-hand contact. And be sure to have plenty of hand sanitizer handy!

BALLOON GARLANDS ADD FESTIVITY TO ANY BIRTHDAY PARTY. COURTESY OF PARTY WITH JESS. METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / NOVEMBER 2020

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Kids

Whether hosting a party at home or at a local venue with safety precautions in place, choose an activity party-goers can enjoy alongside each other. Party venues like Unpluggits are getting creative to offer safe options onsite or to-go painting or ceramics kits for at-home party fun. Outdoor venues like Cadence Equestrian Center offer built-in distancing and exciting activities with equine friends.

“Anything outdoors has been really popular, and I anticipate people having smaller get-togethers throughout the winter months. Those smaller celebrations — even with just family — can still be really special.”

Chelsey Flint, owner of Chelsey Flint Events

ENJOY THE OUTDOORS AND PONIES WITH PERSONALITY WITH A BIRTHDAY PARTY AT CADENCE EQUESTRIAN CENTER.

TRENDING • Birthday party parades capture all the festivity and allow your kids to invite a full guest list, all while keeping a safe distance as they drive by to honk and wave. As a thank you for coming, provide prepackaged treats for guests to grab as they drive through.

• Matching masks make awesome party favors for this age group! Hand sanitizer with labels customized to the party theme are also popular.

• Top themes include donuts, superheroes, mermaids and the wild West. For kids moving beyond themed parties, Trevillion advises choosing colors and a hobby they love to feature.

PHOTO BY BETSY GREGORY

• Host a camping or outdoor movie party for a few friends or just the family.

COURTESY OF CHELSEY FLINT EVENTS

MONEY-SAVER Balloons always make a party feel festive!

Instead of expensive helium-filled bouquets, save by making a DIY balloon arch, or purchase one from a local party planner.

SPLURGE-WORTHY Customized yard signs are all the rage, and a perfect backdrop for a birthday parade. Especially if you’re opting to not have a traditional birthday party this year, a creative yard display will make your birthday child feel celebrated and special.

Locally- and family-owned See Signs Celebrate offers customizable options at $85100. (P.S. these are awesome for any age!)

BIRTHDAY KIDS (AND ADULTS!) FEEL EXTRA SPECIAL WITH A CUSTOM YARD SIGN. COURTESY OF SEE SIGNS CELEBRATE.

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Tweens~Teens

The perfect recipe for tween and teen parties is often good food, great music and space to hang out and chat. Ganther advises that for tweens and teens, planning a party is less about choosing a theme and more about creating a vibe.

TRENDING • Selfie and Tik Tok stations are the new photo booths for this age group. Create a fun backdrop, set up a few lights and the guests will do the rest!

• Customized Snap Chat filters take the party to social media.

• Slumber parties with just one or two friends still feel special. Purchase or DIY matching pajamas and enjoy time with besties. Or kick things up a notch with a come-to-you (or go to them) Mobile Laser Forces party.

• Take the family to enjoy an activity together.

Locales like Riversport and Main Event cater indoor or outdoor adventures perfect for tweens and teens, and Unpluggits offers ceramics options for older kids or families.

COURTESY OF CHELSEY FLINT EVENTS

COURTESY OF RIVERSPORT ADVENTURES

MONEY-SAVER Instead of purchasing a cake, grab cake-making supplies and host a bake-off between a small gathering of friends or family members.

SPLURGE-WORTHY Create a custom backdrop for all those selfies.

Check out Pinterest for DIY ideas, hire a local party planner to customize one to your teen’s tastes or book a front-yard display through a local company.

“It’s so heartwarming to be able to do this. To see little kids so happy about their signs is one of the best things about this company.”

Akwe Trevillion, 17, who owns See Signs Celebrate with her mom Shana and younger brother Jafari, 12

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CALENDAR #OKCFAMILYFUN

TOP IN-PERSON EVENTS Nov. 4 - Dec. 23

Lyric Theatre is reinventing its holiday production of A Christmas Carol into an allnew outdoor experience at Harn Homestead (1721 N Lincoln Blvd). Reimagined as a Victorian Era setting for Ebenezer Scrooge, Jacob Marley and a host of unforgettable characters, families will be guided from scene to scene to witness Charles Dickens’ timeless tale of transformation and redemption. Tickets will be limited for each performance to ensure proper social distancing. All ages welcome.

Adults, $61 & up; kids, $35 & up. See website for performance times. lyrictheatreokc.com

Nov. 6

Stay out late for an evening of socially distanced fun at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum (1700 NE 63rd St). The Cowboy invites families to enjoy an after-hours party, Late Night at the Museum, with canvas painting inspired by the museum’s contemporary art collection, a flashlight tour of Prosperity Junction and a showing of Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian.

Preregister. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Adults, $20; kids (4 & up), $35.

6-11pm. nationalcowboymuseum.org

Nov. 11

Midwest City (15th St, Douglas Blvd & Reno Ave, Midwest City) is celebrating Veterans Day with a parade and the community is invited! Floats, car clubs, marching bands, flyovers and more will salute and honor soldiers. The grand marshal is Colonel (ret.)

Charles B. "Chuck" DeBellevue, America's top ace of the Vietnam War and the last ace to serve on active duty in the U.S. Air Force.

Attendees are encouraged to practice proper social distancing and wear a mask when within 6 feet of someone outside of their household. The parade begins at 10am. midwestcityok.org

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Nov. 13

Myriad Gardens (301 W Reno Ave) is hosting a family workshop to explore bulb botany. Learn all about bulbs and dissect these energy-packed plants. Compare different types of bulbs, some from the kitchen and some from the garden, to learn the parts of a bulb. Then pot your own to care for and enjoy next spring. Best suited for ages 6-12. Preregister.

Members, $8; nonmembers, $10. 6-7pm. myriadgardens.org

Editor’s note: Due to COVID-19, events are subject to change. Please check with each venue for updates.

TOP VIRTUAL EVENTS Nov. 7

New and experienced mamas can hear from parenting experts about topics such as safe sleep, picky eating, potty training, postpartum care and more at MamaFest. The expo will be held virtually with a combination of pre-recorded and live interviews.

Admission includes raffle tickets for giveaways. Preregister. $5$30. 1-5pm. mamafest2020.com

Nov. 8-13

Connect with STEAM professionals in a fun series of one-hour, hands-on workshops as part of MetroFamily’s virtual Geekapalooza: A STEAM Festival for Kids, co-hosted by Girl Scouts Western Oklahoma. The event launches at 7 p.m. on National STEAM Day with an introduction by KFOR Meteorologist Emily Sutton and continues for the next five days with

two workshop sessions conveniently held daily at 4pm and 5pm, which can be watched live or at a later time. Preregister: $12 per family. metrofamilymagazine.com/geekapalooza

Nov. 27

For the first time ever, OKC will kick off the holiday season with the annual FREE OKC Tree Lighting Celebration broadcast online and on TV! News 9 is bringing the holiday special to homes across the city and the program will feature original music performed by local talent, a selection of Christmas carols including the Oklahoma-favorite I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas and Mayor Holt will end the evening with the lighting of the tree. Time TBA. downtownindecember.com

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CALENDAR #OKCFAMILYFUN

Ho-Ho Holiday shopping events Through Dec. 24

Our Universe: Star Peoples of Skidi

November 7 • 10:00 a.m. – Noon Walk through and discover constellations important to the Pawnee people. Map your own chart and listen to star stories. Experience the Pawnee lodge and identify directional points.

Free for members or with Museum admission.

All activities available while supplies last.

Pambe Ghana Global Market (online) is a seasonal fair trade shop offering unique gifts, including a wide selection of folk art from around the world. All proceeds benefit PAMBE Ghana's La'Angum Learning Center in northern Ghana. Curbside pickup available.

249-2314, pambeghana.org/shop/shop

Nov. 5-8

Mistletoe Market features an online holiday market experience that gives shoppers the opportunity to support the Junior League of Oklahoma City while browsing more than 100 vendors offering unique gifts. Families can also schedule a Zoom session with Santa. mistletoemarket.org

Nov. 17

The Gift Goes On Christmas Shopping Event at The Cube at Council Road Baptist Church (7903 NW 30th St, Bethany) features a socially-distanced holiday shopping event with local storefronts and creatives to raise money for families wanting to adopt. $5 suggested donation. 4-9pm. thegiftgoeson.com

Nov. 20 & 21

The Santa Market at State Fair Park Pavilion (3001 General Pershing Blvd) features more than 100 vendors offering décor, fashion, handmade and unique items and the latest in direct sales.

Proceeds from the show benefit the Alzheimer's Association of Oklahoma.

Social distancing procedures will be followed. Free to attend. 9am-4pm. 3141033, facebook.com/thesantamarket

Nov. 7

Pumpkin Harvest Craft Festival at the Dale Robertson Center (1200 Lakeshore Dr, Yukon) features more than 45 booths from across the state selling candles, wood crafts, needlework, home décor and more, as well as a bake sale benefiting Friends of the Park. Free to attend.

9am-3pm. 350-8937, yukonok.gov Junk Hippy at Chester’s Party Barn (5201 Cimarron Rd NW, Piedmont) features vintage and midcentury furniture, shabby and farmhouse décor, boho and handmade goods. $5; 13 & under, free. 9am-4pm. junkhippy.com

Nov. 21 & 28, Dec. 5 & 12

FREE Lights on Broadway Holiday Event in Automobile Alley (Broadway Ave between 4th & 10th St) features shopping, window displays, family-friendly activities, special promotions and giveaways. 4-8pm.

235-4789, downtownindecember. com/lights-on-broadway

Opening Nov. 28

#HashtagTheCowboy nationalcowboymuseum.org/kids 1700 Northeast 63rd Street Oklahoma City, OK 73111

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Holiday Pop-Up Shops in Midtown (399 NW 10th St) features an alloutdoor market with rotating local vendors offering unique gift options.

Saturday, 10am-7pm; Sunday, 10am5pm. 514-5205, okcpopups.com

Turkey Day Runs While Thanksgiving is usually a day focused on eating, several metro nonprofits are offering families an active way to celebrate the season of gratitude. Virtual races have been all the rage in 2020 and the same is on trend for the metro’s Turkey Day 5ks.

Here’s a roundup of some of the fun runs happening this November: Turkey Trot Run, benefiting the Oklahoma City Zoo, presented locally by Bob Moore Subaru. Run your own race, indoors or outdoors, at your own pace, then post your final time online by Nov. 26. Registrants get an official swag bag. All ages welcome. $45. okczoo.org/turkeytrot2020

OKC Turkey Tracks is going virtual, and the annual race benefits Toys for Tots.

Families can participate in a 1-mile fun run, a 5k or a distance of your choosing.

Registrants get a zip jacket, pumpkinpie-inspired medal and a navy blue beanie. $40. okcturkeytracks.com Edmond’s Turkey Trot is also virtual and they have added a 10-mile bike ride option. Families are encouraged to participate at a socially-distant location of their choice as they run, walk or bike to benefit Turning Point Ministries, an organization that provides homeownership opportunities to moderate-income families. Preregister by Nov. 20. $20. edmondturkeytrot.com

Lace up those blades for ice skating!

All three metro rinks are open throughout the holiday season.

The Devon Ice Rink returns for its 10th season at Myriad Gardens on Nov. 6. Admission is $14 with skate rental or $9 for members or without skate rental. Monday-Thursday, 3-9pm; Friday, 3-11pm; Saturday, 11am-11pm; Sunday, 11am-7pm. myriadgardens.org

holiday festivities. Opening Nov. 21, families can skate by twinkle light on a real ice surface. Admission is $12 with skate rental, $8 without and for children 5 and under. Monday-Friday, 4-10pm; Saturday & Sunday, 2-10pm. yukonok.gov

Public Programs Youth Camps Learning Gallery Second Saturday Let us ignite your family’s creativity! We offer a number of programs for all ages, including FREE art activities.

Edmond Ice Rink opens at Mitch Park on Nov. 13. Admission is $12 with skate rental and $8 for kids 5 & under.

Families can also hop aboard a Christmas train for $3 a rider.

Monday-Thursday, 3-9pm; Friday, 3-10pm; Saturday, noon-10pm; Sunday, noon9pm. edmondicerink.com

Learn more at okcontemp.org.

Brand new this year, Yukon’s Christmas in the Park is adding an ice skating rink to their

OklahomaContemporary.org 11 NW 11th St., OKC, OK 73103 METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / NOVEMBER 2020

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405.951.0000 | @okcontemporary

CALENDAR #OKCFAMILYFUN

Holiday light displays

LIGHTS LINE THE HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN AUTOMOBILE ALLEY.

Opening Nov. 20

FREE Midwest City Holiday Lights Spectacular at Joe B. Barnes Regional Park (8700 E Reno Ave) features a drive-thru display with more than 100 animated holiday light displays and an illuminated 118-foot Christmas tree.

Sunday-Thursday, 6-10pm; Friday & Saturday, 6-11pm through Dec. 25. 739-1293, midwestcityok.org

Opening Nov. 21

FREE Luminance - An Enchanted Stroll at Mitch Park (1501 W Covell Rd, Edmond) features a walkable lights display with more 30 interactive 3D LED displays including five new features and a walk-thru lighted tunnel.

Social distancing is encouraged. Open

nightly 5-10pm through Jan. 3. 216-7729, edmondok.com/1460/Luminance FREE Automobile Alley Lights on Broadway Ave (NW 4th to 10th St on Broadway Ave) features more than 230,000 colorful LED lights draping the buildings along eight city blocks in the historic district. Open dusk to dawn through Jan. 10. Lights on Broadway, the district’s special holiday event, has been extended to four Saturdays: Nov. 21, 28 and Dec. 5, 12. downtownindecember.com FREE Crystal Christmas at Crystal Beach Park (108 Temple Houston Dr, Woodward) features drive-thru and walkable light displays with more than two million Christmas lights, lighted train rides and live nativity scenes.

Sunday-Thursday, 6-9pm; Friday & Saturday, 6-10pm through Dec. 31.

580-256-7411, visitwoodward.com FREE Christmas in the Park at Chisholm Trail Park (500 W Vandament, Yukon) features three drive-thru and walkable light displays with more than 100 acres of twinkling lights. Guests may also ride the Santa Express Train for a small fee. Open seven days a week from 6-11pm through Dec. 31.

354-8442, cityofyukonok.gov FREE Festival of Light at Shannon Springs Park (2400 S 9th St, Chickasha) features drive-thru and walkable light displays, carriage rides, an ice rink, a gift shop, concessions and more.

6-11pm nightly through Dec. 31. 2249627, chickashafestivaloflight.org

Opening Nov. 25

FREE Lights from the Heart at Purcell Lake (1400 Chandler Rd) features a 1.5 mile drive-thru light display that runs along the lakeshore.

Open nightly 5:30-10pm through Dec. 31. 527-3093, theheartofok.com

LUMINANCE - EDMOND

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FREE Rhema Christmas Lights at Rhema Bible Church (1025 W Kenosha St, Broken Arrow) features over two million lights and 100,000 shimmering bulbs synchronized to Christmas music. Visitors can drive through the lights in their own vehicle, get out of the car and walk around the park or view the spectacular displays from a carriage. The lights shine every night from 5:30-11:30pm through Jan. 1. 918-258-1588, rhemalights.org

Opening Nov. 26

Garden of Lights at Honor Heights Park (1400 Honor Heights Dr, Muskogee) features more than 1.2 million shimmering lights, enhancing the natural beauty of the park’s gardens, waterfalls and ponds. $5 per car.

5:30-10pm nightly through Dec. 31.

918-682-2401, visitmuskogee.com

FREE Downs Family Christmas Lights (2900 72nd Ave SE, Norman) is a light display set to music that features more than 18 miles of light strands. Bring a canned good or monetary donation to benefit the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. Open 6-10pm through Jan. 2. downsfamilychristmas.com

Opening Nov. 27

Wonderland of Lights at the Woolaroc Museum and Wildlife Preserve (1925 Woolaroc Ranch Rd, Bartlesville) features a drive-thru light display with over 750,000 lights covering the main grounds. Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 5-9 pm through Dec. 20. $2; kids (2 & under), free. 918-336-0307, woolaroc.org Festival Nights at the Philbrook Museum of Art (2727 S Rockford Rd, Tulsa) features garden lights, live music, concessions, shopping and more. The museum stays open late on select nights during the holiday season and all activities will be outdoors with timed entry. 5:30-9:30pm through Dec. 26. Adults, $15; kids (17 & under), $3. 918-749-7941, philbrook.org

Opening Nov. 28

FREE Bricktown Canal Lights Display (Mickey Mantle Dr & California Ave) lines the canal with twinkling lights. Open dusk to dawn through Jan. 10. downtownindecember.com FREE Miranda Family Lights (19544 Talavera Ln, Edmond) features a modern twist on synchronized light displays with 80,000 bright LED lights. The display appeared on ABC’s The Great Christmas Light Fight last year. Opening date tentative; check Facebook for updates.

Sunday-Thursday, 5:30-10pm; Saturday & Sunday, 5:30-11pm through Jan. 1. facebook.com/mirandafamilylights

Opening Dec. 5

FREE Lights at Legion Park in El Reno (900 W Ash St, El Reno) features a small town, walkable light display.

Open nightly 4-9pm through Jan. 2.

Shape Your Future + Scissortail Park

Inspire Healthy Change Stream videos of OKC’s talented chefs preparing simple, healthy recipes.

The cherry on top? They all include locally sourced ingredients from Scissortail Park Farmers Market!

Watch the videos and download the free recipes at: SYFOK.com/chefvideos

CALENDAR #OKCFAMILYFUN

Staying Active & Connected to friends with Girl Scouts TM

At Home .

đ&#x;¤ˇ Teens đ&#x;¤Ś Toddlers đ&#x;‘ś

Nov. 7

Weekly on Tuesdays

Nov. 8

Weekly on Saturdays

Bedlam Bash 5k at Wiley Post Park (2021 S Robinson Ave) features a timed 5k, 10k or half marathon along the River Trails. Dress in your school’s favorite colors. Benefits the OKC Parks and Recreation department. Adults, $35$55; kids (under 17), $25-$45. 10am.

297-2279, facebook.com/OKCParks Drop-In Drawing at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum (1700 NE 63rd St). Explore your creative side, practice different techniques and skills and be inspired by the artwork in the galleries and garden. Drawing materials available to borrow while supplies last or bring your own. Free with admission. 2-3pm. 478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org

FREE Art Adventures at Home with the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art (online) features a storytime with related art activity using materials you are likely to have on hand. Recommended for ages 3-7, but kids of all ages are welcome. Preregister, space is limited.

10:30-11am. 325-3272, ou.edu/fjjma FREE Story Time at Full Circle Bookstore (1900 NW Expressway) features a weekly morning storytime with occasional special guests.

Space is limited so attendees can maintain social distancing. 10:15am.

842-2900, fullcirclebooks.com

Through Nov. 22

FREE Wiggle Out Loud Live Show Sundays (online) features music performances and art events the whole family can move and groove to. Enjoy upbeat Kindie Rock bands and fun movement activities. Sundays, 2pm.

271-4870, facebook.com/wiggleoutloud

Nov. 14

FREE Second Saturday: 3D Printed Thankful Table DĂŠcor with the Bethany Library (online). Librarians will guide teens step-by-step in the design of a 3D printed object. By the end of the hour-long session, attendees will have a completed 3D design that the library will print. Participants will receive the links to the Zoom class after registering. You will also need to create an account on Tinkercad. Preregister.

11am-noon. 789-8363, metrolibrary.org

Nov. 17

Perked-Up Playdate at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum (1700 NE 63rd St) features a playdate at the all-new Friess Family playground.

Enjoy iced refreshments for both adults and littles provided by EÔTÉ Coffee Company. Also held: Dec. 15. Free with admission. 10am-noon. 4782250, nationalcowboymuseum.org

Nov. 20

Sign up today at BecomeAGirlScout.org

Family Team Challenge Night at The Station Recreation Center (700 S Broadway Ave, Moore) features board game tournaments for families to play against other families in some friendly competition. Children 6 & under must be accompanied by an adult. $7.50 per person. 7:30-9:30pm. 7935090, centralpark.cityofmoore.com

Nov. 27 - Dec. 24

Nov. 25

FREE Thunder Days at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum (620 N Harvey Ave) features free admission to the museum, courtesy of the OKC Thunder. In accordance with social distancing guidelines, reservations are required. 9am-6pm.

235-3313, memorialmuseum.com

30 METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / NOVEMBER 2020

North Pole Adventure at Walnut Square Center (2215 W I-240) features a socially-distant but interactive Christmas attraction with a life-sized replica of the North Pole including Santa’s post office, Mrs. Claus’ kitchen, a live reindeer barn and more. There is a new Grinch-themed room where kids help stop the Grinch from stealing Christmas. Photos with Santa will be digitally created in a safe environment.

Masks are encouraged and a personalized mask will be provided. Pricing to be determined. See website for hours of operation. northpoleadventure.org

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Our Turkey Dinner is back and we are taking orders.

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Shared Lives, Distant Places

Recent Acquisitions in Photography

See this work and more in person at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. Peter Turnley (American, b. 1955) Near Cité Soleil, Port-au-Prince, Haiti (detail), 1994, Archival pigment print, 20 x 24 in. (sheet) Oklahoma City Museum of Art, Gift of Ryon and Lauren Beyer in honor of the Museum's 75th anniversary, 2019.189 © Peter Turnley

Catering@runningwildcatering.com for ordering information and details. Last day to place order is Friday November 20th, 2020.

METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / NOVEMBER 2020

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REAL MOMS OF THE METRO

Kylee Holland Creating community for youth in crisis

Si•su (sēē'sōō) n. [< Finnish word] Sisu can be roughly translated into English as strength of will, determination, perseverance and bravery in the face of adversity. Sisu is the ability to sustain courage when times are tough.

Kylee Holland was a stay-at-home wife and mom of twin toddlers and an older child when a job opening with Sisu Youth Services popped up on her social media feed. Holland, with years of experience in mental health casework prior to staying home with her kids, has a passion for serving LGBTQ+ youth, a primary focus area of the affirming nonprofit organization, offering shelter and support to homeless youth.

BY ERIN PAGE. PHOTOS PROVIDED AND

BY BRITTANI MOSLEY PHOTOGRAPHY.

32 METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / NOVEMBER 2020

“I didn’t know if I was ready for a full-time job yet, and I enjoyed being with my kids, but it was the perfect opportunity,” recalls Holland. “I see eye-to-eye with Sisu not only with [supporting] LGBTQ+ youth, but trauma-informed care and how to handle youth who have had difficult lives, layers of barriers, trauma, substance abuse or mental health challenges.”

Holland has served as Sisu’s program director for nearly two years, helping connect the youth who are staying in the shelter, those participating in drop-in services and youth newly in housing who need support with local organizations and professionals to provide everything from job readiness and life skills training to health and wellness programming and hair cuts.

The most rewarding part of Holland’s job is cheering on small victories every day as youth learn to advocate for, support and love themselves. Holland’s goal is to work herself out of a job, assisting youth until they no longer consistently need her or Sisu’s services while at the same time helping the community at large understand the importance of serving this often-forgotten group.

“I still talk to people all the time who don’t know there are youth who are homeless,” said Holland. “The unfortunate next thought is that they are bad or troubled kids. That is not the case. Youth who have trauma and barriers don’t always have attractive behavior, but that is why it’s even more important to address those needs and be a support for those youth. They are used to family members, society and agencies letting them drop through the cracks.”

Stepping up to the need

Sisu began as a mission project in 2010, collecting necessities for homeless youth. A day center to serve youth in crisis opened in 2014, which was quickly outgrown, and in 2018, the overnight shelter opened to provide services seven days a week to youth ages 15 to 22. Sixteen beds are available, and Sisu is one of the only organizations offering emergency shelter to this transitional age group.

Sisu is a low-barrier shelter, not requiring ID like many others do, and they are also LGBTQ+ affirming, with 40 to 60 percent of youth served identifying at LGBTQ+ and citing family rejection as the main reason they are facing homelessness. Staff at Sisu asks each youth for their preferred pronouns and name each day when they check in and commits to honoring those identities.

HOLLAND'S MOST IMPORTANT LIFE ROLE IS THAT OF MOM TO HER THREE KIDS.

“They are lacking a secure sense of themselves because they’ve been put down for being who they are,” said Holland. “By being affirming, we give them a more secure sense of their own identity and they can go out in the world and be more confident in who they are.”

Youth receive a place to stay, clothing, hot meals and case management to connect them to metro resources. Some stay a night or two, some stay months, depending on their needs.

Prior to the pandemic, Sisu also served dropin youth who didn’t need a place to sleep but did need resources and connection.

While Sisu isn’t a residential mental health facility, Holland’s background in providing wraparound, whole-family case management for youth in trauma or with mental health challenges has served their population well in managing related behaviors within the shelter and connecting youth to services to help. Holland’s abilities to both build trusting rapport with youth and partnerships with community organizations to serve them have created a supportive environment designed to meet youth where they are, and her team regularly communicates with service providers they refer LGBTQ+ youth to to ensure they also understand and commit to offering services in an affirming manner.

Health Centers of Oklahoma, health and wellness programming and doctor visits with Diversity Family Health, which focuses on serving the LGBTQ+ community, as well as opportunities to learn about birth control, pregnancy, STDs and HIV testing.

Opportunities Industrialization Center and the Department of Mental Health provide life and job skill readiness training for Sisu youth, including goal setting, creating a budget and taking driver’s ed. Sisu offers monthly health fairs through Community

While helping youth achieve housing is always an end goal, for Holland, it’s the little wins, like a teen remembering to take their medication consistently or prioritizing a good night’s sleep, that she celebrates, knowing it’s their culmination that will lead to stability.

“Especially in this field of work, successes don’t always look linear and growth doesn’t mean checking all the pretty boxes in a row,” explains Holland. “Small victories is where you know real growth is happening.”

Prior to the pandemic and becoming increasingly vital throughout, Holland and her team have worked with local organizations like Other Options to provide biweekly food package drop-offs to already housed youth who need support. In addition, her team assisted youth in accessing stimulus

METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / NOVEMBER 2020

33

“They haven’t often in life gotten to just be kids and have fun, so it’s important for our youth to have outlets for things that are enjoyable,” said Holland.

Holland hopes to connect the youth with opportunities to serve in the community, like participating in a clean-up event through OKC Riversport and OKC Beautiful or volunteering at a local animal shelter, both experiences she has enjoyed with her own teen.

“It’s important for them to feel like they are part of the bigger picture, like they are making a difference in the community,” said Holland.

It takes a village

Holland’s most important life role is that of mom. The self-proclaimed perfectionist gains both freedom and encouragement through the support system helping raise her kids, including her ex-wife, both of their girlfriends and the kids’ grandparents. Holland and ex-wife Krysta Henry live in the same household and co-parent together.

“It’s pretty unconventional, but it works for us,” said Holland. “In separating, we didn’t want to separate our kids’ lives. They get the love of so many people in their lives.”

The ex-wives, girlfriends and kids recently vacationed together in Beaver’s Bend, they host weekly pizza nights together and they split up the chores.

“As moms, we feel like we have to do everything, and it’s really wonderful to have several adults who can each hold up pieces of the puzzle,” said Holland. “The intention was a support system for our kids, but it’s absolutely been a support system for me.”

That support system has become even more critical during the pandemic. Though Holland and her Sisu colleagues initially attempted to work from home some, the nature of their jobs running a shelter makes working remotely difficult. Holland says her younger children are handling the challenges of the pandemic more easily than her older, age 13, who is missing connection with their friends and opportunities to enjoy activities outside of the home.

HOLLAND AND HER EX-WIFE HAVE CREATED AN OPEN AND AFFIRMING HOUSEHOLD FOR THEIR KIDS TO BE THEMSELVES.

checks, especially those who may not have filled out taxes, had moved or simply didn’t know how to apply.

“We saw this need of youth in housing who had lost jobs at a complete standstill and not knowing what to do,” said Holland. “That’s one of the things I love, that we’ll always step up to the need.”

Even when youth who have experienced trauma or homelessness have achieved housing, it can be challenging for them to maintain it, and Holland seeks to be an ongoing resource to fill those needs.

“These youth haven’t had the parent or family to support them, tell them you can’t put a can in the microwave, explain how to set up electricity in their name or how to advocate for themselves,” said Holland. “Adulting is hard! We’re not only assisting youth get into housing but keeping them stably housed.”

Providing opportunities for fun and self-care are vital to Holland, too.

Kind Cuts visits occasionally to provide hair cuts for the youth, Poetry and Chill offers weekly workshops and the youth recently enjoyed a paint-and-sip event with sparkling juice. Holland looks forward to providing more programs for housed youth, in addition to youth staying at the shelter, over the next year.

34 METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / NOVEMBER 2020

Holland’s 13-year-old came out to her several years ago and has been exploring pronouns to determine what feels like a fit. Holland believes creating an atmosphere of openness in the home, starting when kids are little, helps kids feel more confident in sharing their feelings as they get older, whether that’s their gender identity or a difficult situation they’ve encountered.

“We created openness from an early age, being open to our kids to be who they are and supporting and nurturing them in any capacity,” said Holland.

This type of open, affirming living environment contrasts sharply with what many of the youth she works with at Sisu have experienced.

“It’s important to be able to acknowledge and accept whatever your child is telling you as their own truth,” said Holland. “If parents can give their children the space to explore their own identities before they are 18, that just takes one layer off the struggle young adults face as they learn to maneuver in the world.”

Holland is learning herself how and when to advocate for her child, and teaching them to advocate for themselves. In a recent email to a new art teacher in their Paseo neighborhood, Holland held her breath as she used they/them pronouns, unsure whether to out her child but also knowing the teen likely wouldn't out themselves and wanting to create a comfortable space for them to be themselves. Holland was

pleasantly surprised the teacher not only caught on but reassured her that she would do her best to use correct pronouns.

“I created an open space by being their advocate,” said Holland.

While there weren’t many resources available when Holland’s oldest was born, now there are more books representative of two mom or two dad households or celebrating LGBTQ+ youth, a fact Holland is grateful for as she sees in her home and professional lives the positive impact of normalization through representation. Reading books, having ongoing discussions and normalizing LGBTQ+ individuals within the home can help create future adults who celebrate and affirm others’ differences.

“It provides kids with a more open mindset, so as they get older and see kids and other adults that are more gender fluid or transgender, it won’t come as a shock if they have normalized the idea that everyone is different and doesn’t fit into one little box,” said Holland.

How metro families can support Sisu v

Families and community members can support Sisu by providing a hot meal to shelter residents or gathering donations like bottled water, snacks or men’s and women’s underwear. For a list of current needs, visit facebook.com/SisuYouthOKC.

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35

FAMILY MENTAL WELLNESS

Bullying Is my child a victim or instigator?

BY DR. ERICA FAULCONER

Bullying is an all too common issue among school-aged children. We, as parents, are often ill prepared to recognize and intervene when faced with bullying in our own children, whether they are being bullied or the one doing the bullying.

Bullying can have many different facets.

It can be physical with hitting, kicking, pinching or spitting. It can be verbal with teasing, taunting or threats. It can also be social with spreading rumors, leaving someone out on purpose or embarrassing someone in public.

With social media, social bullying is much more prevalent and easy to accomplish.

According to stopbullying.gov, 20 percent of school-aged children report being bullied.

Unfortunately there are likely many more kids who may not report bullying out of fear or simply because they view bullying as a “normal” part of their lives at school.

Is my chilD bEing bulliED?

Is my child a bully?

Victims of bullying often are viewed as different among their peers. Bullies tend to find kids they perceive as weak or with low self-esteem. But kids don’t have to fall into these typical categories to be bullied.

Sometimes the bully views the victim as a threat and thus wants to be in control.

The other side of this equation is being able to recognize when your child is the bully. We often don’t want to see this in our children and may refuse to accept it. If you see that your child constantly needs to be in charge or dominate their peers, this can be a warning sign. Also look for children who are aggressive, easily frustrated or talk negatively about others.

Look for these warning signs that your child is being bullied: • Physical injuries • Missing or damaged belongings • Difficulty sleeping • Poor school performance • Decreased self-esteem • Negative self-talk • Frequent excuses for missing school

36 METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / NOVEMBER 2020

Look for these warnings signs that your child is a bully: • Frequently getting into fights at school and/or home • Getting sent to the principal’s office often • Blaming others for their problems • Aggressive behavior • Lying

The root of the issue

For both the bully and the victim of bullying, self-esteem can be a core issue. Feeling the need to control others implies feeling out of control in some aspect. The key to addressing your child and their role in bullying is open communication. Try not to immediately react severely to the child who is bullying but rather try to get to the root of the issue. Most children don’t have an innate tendency to be mean to others.

Even if your child isn’t involved in a bullying conflict, it’s imperative for parents to discuss the issue. Every child should be encouraged to stand up against bullying when it is witnessed. I’m reminded of the quote: “What is cool isn’t always right and what is right isn’t always cool.” Promote strength of character in your children and encourage them to help others by standing up and telling an adult any time they see bullying behaviors.

On either side of this issue, encourage your child to make a list of the things they like about themselves and review it often. Building confidence starts with feeling you are good at something. Impart that not everyone has to be the same or enjoy the same things. Embrace and celebrate being different.

Dr. Erica Faulconer is native to Oklahoma City, a wife, mom of three beautiful children and pediatrician at Northwest Pediatrics. She received her bachelor's degree in microbiology from Oklahoma State University, completed medical training at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and spent her residency in pediatrics at the University of Oklahoma Children’s Hospital, completing her training in 2013.

When your child is a victim of bullying, give him or her the tools to mitigate the problems. Encourage them to walk away from a bully, tell an adult immediately and resist the temptation to retaliate against bad behavior.

Editor’s note: This column is the fifth in a year-long series on family mental wellness, written by local experts on topics pertinent to parents and children. Columnists include Dr. Faulconer, Thai-An Truong, LPC, LADC, in private practice as a postpartum therapist and mom of two; Stacey Johnson, LPC, (@staceyjohnsonlife) in private practice at The Purple Couch and mom of eight; Jeanae Neal, registered behavior therapist and mom of one, and Dr. Lisa Marotta, a psychologist, writer, speaker and mom in private practice in Edmond.

Knowing when to step in as a parent is important as well. Bullying can quickly get out of hand. Keep open communication with school administrators and know their stance on how they handle bullying in and out of school. Be careful of labeling another child a bully. In approaching another parent about a child’s bullying behavior, being kind but direct can go a long way in conflict resolution.

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EXPLORING OKLAHOMA

Dazzling day trips THE GATHERING PLACE, TULSA

Make sweet memories as you embark on a day trip to see a new-to-you holiday light display!

Check out these two Oklahoma day trip inspirations with socially distant family fun.

BY LINDSAY CUOMO. PHOTOS PROVIDED. CASTLE OF MUSKOGEE

Muskogee Mosey on over for some old-world fun

The Castle of Muskogee (3400 W Fern Mountain Rd, Muskogee) is well-known for Halloween and Renaissance festivals, but this family-friendly attraction also lights up the holidays with the Castle Christmas Celebration. Whether by train, hayride or car, families can journey through Castleton Village, an old-world winter wonderland filled with thousands of colorful displays and twinkling lights. You can even stroll the streets of the village atop Christmas ponies or Cletus the Camel. Holiday merchants set up shop to peddle unique gifts, sweets and souvenirs.

Extend the festive fun with a visit to nearby Garden of Lights at Honor Heights Park (1400 Honor Heights Dr, Muskogee). The park’s display features more than one million lights, enhancing the natural beauty of the botanical gardens, waterfalls and ponds.

38 METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / NOVEMBER 2020

Both light displays are open nightly from 5:30 to 10 p.m. from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve. Admission to the Garden of Lights is $5 per car. Rides and other activities at the Castle are open on select nights in December and prices vary. To plan your visit, check out okcastle.com/castle-christmas.

Make it a whole day of fun with a visit to these nearby attractions Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame Officially recognized by the state legislature in 1996, the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame & Museum (401 S 3rd St, Muskogee) highlights Oklahoma’s rich and diverse musical landscape and the impact on the music industry of Oklahoma icons like Woody Guthrie and Merle Haggard, as

GARDEN OF LIGHTS AT HONOR HEIGHTS PARK, MUSKOGEE

well as modern talents such as The All American Rejects, Kristen Chenoweth and Carrie Underwood. Along with biographical exhibits highlighting many of the inductees, the museum features memorabilia and artifacts on display.

“We have an old-school reel-to-reel that plays Okie From Muskogee and an eight-track exhibit,” said Harley Hamm, manager of the museum and the entertainment director. “We have tons of autographed guitars and even a Hee Haw exhibit.”

Housed in an old Frisco freight depot, the museum is also a popular concert venue hosting inductions and live concerts throughout the year. This kid-friendly museum offers self-guided tours by appointment. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; there is no charge for admission but donations are appreciated. To schedule a tour, call 918-687-0800. Stay up to date about upcoming events on the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame’s Facebook page.

Three Rivers Museum

As one of the earliest regions to be settled west of the Mississippi, the Three Rivers Museum (220 Elgin, Muskogee) chronicles the history of the region where the Arkansas, Grand and Verdigris Rivers meet through multi-ethnic, historical exhibits. The artifacts illustrate how Muskogee played a part in shaping early Oklahoma, telling the story of the pioneering people and industries of the American frontier. The museum is housed inside a renovated mission-style railroad depot and, behind the museum, families can climb aboard a 1940s-era diesel switch engine.

There is a one-room schoolhouse on the museum campus that families can also

explore to learn about the early days of education.

The museum campus including the train and the schoolhouse are decorated for the holidays.

“We usually have a silent movie playing in the upstairs window at night,” said Angie Rush, museum director. “Families can stop in after hours and watch from the street. The film runs about 5 minutes.”

On Nov. 27 and 28 and Dec. 4 and 5, the museum partners with the Roxy Theatre to host a Polar Express pajama party. Families get a golden ticket to watch the movie at the theatre and a special ride to and from the museum, which acts as the North Pole, where kids can visit Santa. Tickets are $15 a person.

“We will have special precautions in place to make sure families can be socially distant,” Rush said.

On Saturday, Dec. 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., kids can get a special surprise! In a take-andmake kit, the museum will provide everything needed to make a Muskogee ornament and Santa will stop in for another visit.

The museum is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for kids 6 and up.

Fuel Up Muskogee prides itself on having the most BBQ restaurants per capita than any city in Oklahoma, said Justin O’Neal with the Greater Muskogee Chamber of Commerce.

Runt’s Bar B-Q and My Place Bar-B-Que are close to Honor Heights Park and Runt’s has freshly-baked pies made in-house daily, a tasty treat to warm up after your light tour.

METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / NOVEMBER 2020

39

THE GATHERING PLACE, TULSA

Tulsa

Trek to Tulsa for glittering gardens

The Gathering Place has received national accolades for its beautiful, wide-open landscapes, unique park features and unexpected attractions. Families can spend hours exploring the nearly-100-acre park.

Climb, slide, swing and zip to your heart’s content throughout the year, but don’t miss a visit during the holidays, when the park transforms into a winter wonderland complete with faux snow! This year’s festivities will have a socially-distant spin, allowing families to enjoy the magic of the season safely.

Beginning Dec. 18, thousands of twinkling lights will illuminate Chapman Adventure Playground, carolers will perform around the park and organizers are working on plenty of other fun surprises. The celebration will continue nightly through Jan. 3.

Then head over to Broken Arrow where the Rhema Christmas Lights Extravaganza (1025 W Kenosha, Broken Arrow) has been an annual holiday tradition since 1982!

More than two million lights illuminate the spacious church campus. The ever-popular Christmas tree forest and the twinkling Rhema Park bridge are ideal spots to capture holiday photos. Families can walk, drive or ride a horse-drawn carriage through the lights. Admission is free and concessions are available for purchase. The display kicks off on Nov. 26 and continues nightly until Jan. 1 from 5:30 to 11:30 p.m.

40 METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / NOVEMBER 2020

Make it a whole day of fun with a visit to these nearby attractions Tulsa Botanical Gardens

While a visit to a botanical garden might seem like a springtime affair, the Tulsa Botanical Gardens (3900 Tulsa Botanic Dr, Tulsa) host the annual Garden of Lights Festival welcoming families to explore the 2-acre children’s garden and meandering lakeside promenade set to the twinkle of holiday lights. Enjoy the beautiful botanical sights as well as special themed activities and classes during the day, plus train rides, fire pits, a garden railroad display and more on select nights throughout the holiday season.

Refreshments including hot chocolate and s’mores kits are available for purchase during the evening activities.

The Garden of Lights Festival kicks off Nov. 27 and is open nightly Thursday through Sunday until Jan. 3. The gardens close at 3 p.m. and reopen for the festival from 5 to 9 p.m. Advanced ticketing is required for timed entry slots and tickets are limited. Masks are strongly encouraged indoors or when social distancing isn’t possible outdoors. Admission for adults is $15, $5 for kids ages 3 to 12 and free for children 2 and under. Find all the details at tulsabotanic.org.

PHILBROOK MUSEUM OF ART, TULSA

Philbrook Museum of Art

Philbrook Museum of Art is unexpected in just about every way. It’s an art museum, a historic mansion and formal gardens, nestled in a beautiful neighborhood. The art on display spans an array of mediums,

periods and countries. The architecture is beautifully preserved and the gardens are inviting both to children who need a place to move about and those who want to just sit and enjoy the natural beauty. There is plenty of space for both.

The gardens are just one of the reasons the museum is so family-friendly. They also offer free admission to kids 17 and under as well as fun events like Singalong Saturdays, family yoga in the gardens, storytime, outdoor movies and the annual Philbrook Festival.

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The festival will be held entirely outdoors this year to ensure a safe experience for all museum guests. With thousands of lights illuminating the gardens, families can enjoy festive holiday happenings. Festival admission is $15 for adults and $3 for kids.

Take-and-make activities are $5 each. Find all the details about upcoming events and reserve your timed entry at philbrook.org.

Fuel Up Mother Road Market (1124 S Lewis Ave, Tulsa) is a food hall with plenty of family-friendly dining options from pizza, tacos and burgers to sweet treats. They offer curbside and patio dining, plus fun holiday shopping options including a children’s bookstore.

Afterward, enjoy more holiday shopping at nearby Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios on 66, Decopolis and Sky Gallery, an art gallery with local art at a variety of price points.

For more holiday fun, including light displays, shopping, local events and winter break camps and activities, visit metrofamilymagazine.com/winter.

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Super Kids

of the Metro

SPONSORED BY

Teens serving teens

Volunteerism leads to future dreams

BY KRISTY BLOSCH. PHOTOS PROVIDED.

Imagine you’re a 15-year-old living on your own in Oklahoma City. You don’t know where you’re going to sleep tonight because your parents kicked you out. Maybe you’re able to find a friend whose family will let you sleep on their couch and lend you some clean clothes to wear, but you still don’t have any money for food or transportation.

Night after night rest eludes you because you’re worrying about what’s next. You stumble sleepily through school each day, and your grades start to suffer for it. You don’t know how you’ll meet your basic needs, and you’re anxious about your future.

44 METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / NOVEMBER 2020

ROBERSON (THIRD FROM LEFT) AND FELLOW TEEN SERVICE BOARD MEMBERS SHOP TO FULFILL HOLIDAY WISH LISTS FOR PIVOT YOUTH. INSET: SWANSON (CENTER) AND FELLOW TEEN SERVICE BOARD MEMBERS SERVE AT JESUS HOUSE.

Serving at-risk youth Pivot: A Turning Point for Youth was established in 1972 to help kids facing challenges such as these by offering programs and services for homeless or displaced youth including emergency shelter and independent living services, education support and job assistance, life skills training, mentoring and prevention and interventional programs.

Pivot created its Teen Service Board to empower metro teens to help other teenagers in need and to give board members insight to expand their social perspectives, empathy and compassion.

Lilly Roberson and Cydne Swanson currently serve on Pivot’s Teen Service Board, and Norman Markland, independent team leader and Teen Service Board chair for Pivot, says both have been outstanding leaders and outspoken advocates in serving our city’s youth.

“Leadership and community engagement are integral parts of the Oklahoma City community, and these two students have engaged in a meaningful way that helps improve the lives and futures of other youth in our city,” said Markland.

Board members hail from varied backgrounds and schools within the metro, but they come together to serve a common purpose. Some of the board members have been exposed to some of the same issues as the youth Pivot serves, including trauma, racism, poverty, marginalization and mental health challenges. But others haven’t and use the experience to more deeply understand what other young people are facing in their everyday lives.

“We want to help educate students about how to advocate for those in need, and both Cydne and Lilly have shown a passion for making our community better in this way,” said Markland.

Futures built on service Swanson, a senior at Harding Charter Preparatory High School, joined the Pivot board because although she was already very involved at school, she wanted to find a way to serve her community beyond the school walls.

“Since Pivot serves youth from 12 to 21 years old, I liked that they wanted to bring in other teenagers so the kids in their programs would have someone to relate to,” said Swanson.

“And it’s really opened my eyes and made me more considerate of those around me.”

Similarly, Roberson, a senior at Heritage Hall, joined the Pivot Teen Service Board to get involved in the community. Her family is very active philanthropically and politically, and she wanted to find a way to contribute on her own.

“Pivot encourages us to reach out to our sphere of influence to raise money and advocate for our cause,” said Roberson, “and it’s encouraging to see how willing people are to give of their resources to support others.”

Through Roberson’s fundraising efforts for Pivot, she’s been inspired to see how eager people are to help.

“I wanted to educate myself and understand the bigger picture of our community,” said Roberson. “I wanted to find something that was more than just community service hours, and I’ve found a cause that I’m really passionate about.”

Swanson’s service with Pivot has inspired her to pay it forward. Inspired by a holiday project the Teen Service Board championed for Pivot youth, Swanson is leading a similar effort at her school. Each year, board members raise money to purchase items on the Pivot youths’ holiday wish lists.

“Since this is my senior year, I want to go all out,” said Swanson. “I want to expand my circle of influence by taking what I’ve learned through Pivot and implementing a similar project through my mentorship club at school. I know there are people in need all around us, especially at Christmas, and this is a small way I can help to fill some of those needs, both with Pivot and beyond.”

Swanson hopes to attend an HBCU (Historically Black College and University) to pursue a legal career focused on civil

rights and criminal justice. Her dream is to own her own law firm to fight for justice.

“I’ve seen the challenges people and their families endure when they’re facing civil rights issues or stuck in a cycle of incarceration, and I want to use whatever opportunities I’m given to help overcome those challenges and break these generational cycles,” said Swanson Upon high school graduation, Roberson aims to attend George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and pursue a career in public service and politics where she can combine her experience in community service and advocacy with her interest in public policy and government.

“I think it’s exciting to see how different policies and programs really can have an impact on peoples’ lives and how, in turn, those individuals contribute to the success of our city and state,” said Roberson. “I want to be a part of pushing that forward.”

To learn more about Pivot: A Turning Point for Youth or Teen Service Board opportunities, visit pivotok.org.

Supporting Change– For the Better Ten-year-old Brixton Ison volunteers every Friday night at Celebrate Recovery Memorial Road Church of Christ. Whether setting a dining table, distributing informational material, or preparing a dish for a family-friendly dinner, his passion for helping others is a prime example of why we’re inspired by kids like Brixton.

At Kimray, our mission is to make a difference in the lives of those we serve. Brixton exemplifies this by living out that mission in the service he provides to his community. And that’s The Kimray Way.

METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / NOVEMBER 2020

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ALL VIRTUAL STEAM FESTIVAL FOR KIDS Sign up today to enjoy an exciting virtual STEAM Festival for the entire family! Explore science, technology, engineering, art and math from your own home! Now in its fourth year, Geekapalooza is a hands-on event designed to spark kids' interest in these fun and important subjects. This year, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going all-virtual, providing an exciting intro session featuring Emily Sutton, meteorologist at KFOR-TV followed by a creative series of 10, one-hour workshops designed to get kids involved and hands-on in all aspects of STEAM. The event launches at 7 p.m. on Nov. 8 with a welcome introduction and continues for the next five days (Nov. 9-13), with two workshop sessions conveniently held daily at 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. PLUS all workshops will be recorded so you can watch them live and/or later!

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www.metrofamilymagazine.com/geekapalooza

Mocktails+Crafts During Mocktails + Crafts, you will be given instruction to construct something beautiful and even useful for your home. This class is designed for all skill levels. Register with friends or family because Mocktails + Crafts is always better with a friend.

Class registration is $35. (alcohol is not provided in this class) Ages: 18 & up Min/ Max: 2/8

Th T W W Th Th M

Sept. 3 Sept. 15 Oct. 7 Nov. 4 Nov. 12 Dec. 3 Dec. 7

6:30 – 8 p.m.

6:30 – 8 p.m.

6:30 – 8 p.m.

6:30 – 8 p.m.

6:30 – 8 p.m.

6:30 – 8 p.m.

6:30 – 8 p.m.

Custom Doormat & Arnold Palmers Scrabble Coasters & Spritzers Tabletop Firepit & Smores Martinis Oversized Tic Tac Toe Christmas Pillars & Apple Cider Winter Ornaments & Holly Jolly Christmas Citrus Coffee Mug Holder & Irish Coffee

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